AN AWARD-WINNING wildlife group celebrated its half century with a special open day last weekend.

Rectory Field in Orwell is a five acre plot managed jointly by the Woodland Trust and local wildlife group Ogwild, whose aim is to create a treasured local spot for both wildlife and people. 

Visitors to the site on Saturday were  able to see at first hand what the volunteers have been doing to give nature a helping hand and activities across the afternoon included workshops, a butterfly count and scavenger hunt  - as well as coffee and cake 

‘Our volunteers have worked carefully to encourage nature to work at its own pace and encourage biodiversity’ said Ogwild chair Paul Martin.

‘We have created wood and grass piles for insects and pollinators and erected boxes for bats and birds, including owls and have also placed stone piles and ‘reptile mats’ for lizards, toads, slow worms, mice and voles.

‘A community orchard has also been planted with old Devon fruit varieties as well as native deciduous trees,  all donated by the community and many have memorial plaques.’